Welcome to Gaia! ::

Rhiannon pressed her fingers against the tattoo gingerly; it was still a little painful - and scabby and so she covered it up again with a dressing. Pulling on first a strappy low cut top in black, and then a sort of netted blouse that was in a gauzy white see through material (the blouse hung low enough to pretty much disguise the covered up tattoo), she looked at herself in the mirror as she buttoned the blouse shut. Rhiannon was already wearing black leather trousers, and had her boots on already. She brushed her hair out, changed earrings and shoved on some silver-coloured metal bangles. They jangled as she moved, and shone in the light. It was a shame that silver had a bad effect on her - she did actually like silver jewellery. Well rather wear other metal then get a bad silver burn. She turned, looking at herself; yup this would do. It wasnt like she was going 'on the pull' as Sati jokingly said she should do. Rhiannon stuffed money and keys in a pocket, sneaking out of the house.
Half an hour later she was walking through Durem, enjoying the night life, the sounds of people having a good time and the fact that it was not a full moon. The thumping sound of music grew closer and she was soon standing across the road from the nightclub 'Liquid'. It was fairly busy, she saw a steady stream of guys and girls her age walking in and out. She crossed the street, paying the doorman and getting her hand stamped so she wouldnt have to pay again if she left. He also gave her a leaflet. Apparently tonight girls got their first drink for free. She ignored any looks she was getting from people of either sex as she headed in through the dancing, talking crowds and stood at the bar. Handing over her coupon, the barman chatted her up for a little while, handing her the rum and coke she had ordered. She turned her back on him, and he gave up and went after another pretty young thing that was at the bar. She sighed, sipping her drink.
The music was loud to her sensitive ears, and she wasnt here with anyone so she felt a little lonely; but saying all that it was still better then being at home with her mother who was miserable because David wasnt at home. She moved from the bar, grabbing a seat in one of the booths that were arranged on the outer edge of the dance floor. She watched the gyrating couples, some dancing with wild abandon, others looking like they were about to get it on right there on the dance floor! She blushed, turning back to her drink and sipping it. There was a little bit too much rum in it but it was okay. She was startled from thoughts of how it would be nice if it were her and Cyrus dancing out there as a girl dressed in an odd purple velvet dress thing flopped onto the end of the booth.
'S'ok if I sit here a minute?' she asked, pushing the long spiky fringe from her face. Rhiannon nodded mutely.
'Thanks,' the girl said, slumping a little.
'My friends ditched me to go to another club with some greasy guys,' the girl explained. Rhiannon nodded again.
'Dont you speak?' she asked suddenly. Rhiannon blinked;
'Of course - but not usually to strange people who sit down and explain their life story.'
The girl laughed;
'How cute! Such pretty manners. I am guessing your a good girl who lives with her parents huh?'
Rhiannon blushed a little, nodding and feeling strange about being described as 'cute' by another girl!
'I'm Kate by the way,' the girl said, introducing herself.
'Rhiannon,' she replied.
'This your first time here?' Kate asked. Rhiannon nodded.
'I could tell. You look pretty uncomfortable,' she chuckled. Rhiannon squirmed.
'This is helping a little,' she said, holding the glass up that was almost empty.
'Well then I should get you another!' Kate said, leaping up and going over to the bar before Rhiannon could protest. Rhi finished her drink whilst she waited, and felt a little more relaxed as the rum went down. Kate came back, balancing a beer bottle under her arm and holding a glass. The ice in it clinked as she put it down, and she sat next to Rhiannon this time, popping open her own drink.
'Thanks,' Rhiannon said, pushing away the empty glass and nursing the new drink. Kate nodded;
'Your welcome.' she sipped her own drink.
'How come your on your own? No friends - no date?' she asked. Rhiannon shrugged.
'I wanted to see what a place like this was like on my own. And I dont have a boyfriend.' she said, picking out an ice cube and watching it melt on the table top. Kate burped softly, grinning at Rhiannon.
'What about a girlfriend?'
Rhiannon blinked;
'Err no...I mean I dont ,' she blushed, looking at her glass. Kate laughed.
'You squirm alot too.' she teased. Rhiannon took a big gulp of her drink, feeling pleasantly light headed. It also meant she was able to think about what Kate was talking about without screwing her face up. Of course she knew that some girls liked being with other girls - preferred them to boys but she hadnt even thought that she was....like that. She looked at Kate; well she was pretty, she could admit that. But she liked Cyrus...who probably liked Bronwen. Ergh..she rubbed her head. Kate grinned, and threw her arm around Rhiannon's shoulder.
'Your too young to have decided who you like for life!' she declared.
'Bet you havent even kissed a guy - or girl properly for that matter.'
Rhiannon shook her head - wondering vaguely what it was about alcohol that made one relaxed enough to talk about personal stuff to someone she had just met. Kate moved her hand, rubbing the back of Rhiannon's neck. Her eyes slid shut - it was a pleasant sensation, and then she felt Kate's hand on her leg. Her eyes flew open;
'Err Kate..I umm,' she gulped.
'Just have fun Rhiannon. Its nice really - and I wont do anything you dont want.' Kate moved her hand from Rhiannon's leg and put it on her face, tilting her head towards her. Rhiannon shut her eyes tightly - was she really about to have her first kiss - and from a girl! Maybe...if she thought about this being practice for when she kissed a boy. That might help. Kate's lips suddenly pressed against hers, her mouth moving against Rhiannons. And Rhiannon kissed her back, sighing a little. It was...surprisingly pleasant and Kate's lips were soft. She put her arms around Kate - it seemed the thing to do and Kate moved her hand back on Rhiannons thigh, describing a circle on it. Rhiannon broke away finally, her eyes a little dazed. She felt really peculiar. Because it had felt nice.
'Wow..' she breathed. Kate grinned, squeezing her leg.
'Told you it was nice. Not scary huh?'
Rhiannon shook her head;
'Not scary at all.' she giggled suddenly.
'Kissing a guy is about the same,' Kate said, letting Rhiannon go and swigging from her beer. She leaned back and looked at Rhiannon.
'You have a guy you at least like?'
Rhiannon was a litte bemused from the whole kiss thing and took a while to answer;
'Yeah I kinda like a guy. He's cute, and we are friends. But I dont know if he likes me the same way.'
Kate put the bottle down;
'If you kiss him the way you did me he cant help but not.' she teased.
'I - was good?' Rhiannon said, sounding surprised. Kate winked;
'Really good.' she leaned over and pulled Rhiannon to her again, kissing Rhiannon's cheek, and then her mouth again. Rhiannon wanted to protest this wasnt her but it was too nice a feeling, and she kissed her new friend back.

A few drinks later..
'Lets go somewhere else,' Kate said, rubbing Rhiannon's leg.
'My place.' she said, pulling Rhiannon up, and walking the now drunk girl with her. Rhiannon started giggling again and didnt stop until they were standing outside Kate's apartment.
'Nice place,' she managed, looking blearily around the place as Kate steered her through towards her bedroom.
'Its okay,' said Kate, letting Rhiannon fall back onto the bed. Rhiannon was only half awake by now and slid across the bed, resting her head on the pillows. Kate sat on the bed next to her;
'You awake still?' she asked, leaning and kissing Rhiannon again.
'Mmm,' she said, only a little aware the Kate was undoing her blouse. Kate pulled it open, and let her hand drift on Rhiannon's stomach and then slid under her t-shirt. Rhiannon moaned, and then passed out. Kate sighed, pulled her hand away, and tucking Rhiannon under the blankets. She wasnt a horrible person and really had taken to the blushing, cute girl. She lay down next to Rhiannon, lying on top of the sheets and fell asleep as she watched Rhiannon.


In the morning Rhiannon awoke, staring around the strange room in a panic. Where the hell was she? She looked beside her on the bed, remembering as she saw Kate sleeping there. Kate stirred as she felt movement.
'Hiya,' she said, yawning and rubbing her eyes as she sat up.
'You ok?'
Rhiannon shook her head.
'What did you do to me?' she said, motioning to her open blouse.
'Nothing honey. You passed out. I let you sleep. I'm not a monster. I think you're cute. And I want to get to know you better.' Kate smiled.
'I'm not sure. I really - I think I liked it. The kissing I mean,' she was stopped as Kate pulled her close and kissed her softly.
'Ok I do like it,' she admitted.
'But your not sure if this is you huh?' Kate said, rubbing Rhiannons back.
'I want you to be sure.' one of her hands slid under Rhiannon's top. Rhiannon closed her eyes, the sensation was new and god...very enjoyable. She pulled away.
'I like that guy. I like what you've made me feel.' she got off the bed.
'I just need to know if its what I want.'
Kate nodded, standing and getting paper and pen. She scribbled her phone number and her address.
'Call me when you know okay?'
Rhiannon fled the apartment and once on the street stuffed the paper in her pocket. She'd never call - that had to be a one off. No more drink either. It had led her to go off with someone she barely knew. She ran home, and managed to sneak in the house again without Sayuri knowing.

David slowly limped up the path to the house, looking like hell warmed over. Every time he got called on it seemed, it was always when things where going from bad to worse. Fumbling with the door, he gave up with it a moment, just leaning against it, his head thudding against the door lightly.

Sayuri was out; food shopping or something. Rhiannon had headphones on, listening to music on her mp3 player, dancing wildly in the living room with Wolf and Pup looking on baffled. Her hair flew around her face as she wriggled her hips, moving to the beat. She winced as she did a dramatic move, forgetting that she had the tattoo on her lower back for a moment. She clicked the music off, going over to the hall mirror, turning and looking at the dressing covering it.
'Owie,' she mumbled, as she accidentally tugged the surgical tape and it shifted on her skin.

David once again fumbled at the door handle, this time managing to turn it. Problem being, he was still leaning on the door. With a bang and a crash, the door flew open, David tumbling in the door, landing face up at Rhiannons feet, a little dazed.

Rhiannon screamed when David fell through the door, yanking the razor sharp knife from her bootstrap and pointing it at him before she realised who the guy was;
'Daddy?' she said, sliding the knife away again and kneeling by him.
'Daddy are you okay?'

Blinking a bit as the knife was drawn on him, he tried to look beyond the knife, vision a little blurry. "Rhi, Rhiannon? Tha you? Yeah, i'm okay. Just really really tired." Using a table to hold onto, David got on his feet again, dusting himself off, and blink a little, looking at Rhiannon, and then pointing at her back "Wha happened? You hurt!?!" David got a paniced look on his face, while swaying a little on his feet.

Rhiannon tugged her t-shirt down - what had possessed her to wear such a short cut top anyways;
'Err not in so many words.' she said.
'Daddy you look terrible. Why dont you sit down?' she suggested, trying to steer the conversation off herself.

"Fine, i'll sit down, but you will explain what happened afterwards." David weaved and limped to the couch, shooing Wolf and Pup off of it before flopping down, eyes closing for a moment before opening them to look at Rhiannon again. "Well?"

She twirled the ends of her hair in her fingers;
'Well you see...I'm not a child anymore..' she said, running on with the speech she had prepared for telling him about her tattoo.
'Aww damnit. I got a tattoo.' she said, giving up on the speech. She chewed on a nail nervously.

David blinked, and blinked again "A tattoo you say? Does your mother know about this? Did you go to a reputable place to get it done? Did you go to a place that specializes in tattooing werecreatures? Can I see it?" David gave a little smile. "Oh, and watch your mouth. I don't care if you cuss when your out with your friends, but please, not in the house when your mother and i are around?"

'Dad its not like I said fu..fudge.' she said, sitting down with a scowl on her face opposite him. She winced a little.
'Its a tattoo Dad...I went to a normal place. Its not like they advertise in the phone book 'we tattoo werewolves!' she shrugged.
'I didnt think it mattered. It wasnt going to be a full moon that day anyways. And you cant see it - I have to leave the dressing on for a while.'

"Yes, but unless they use special tools, there's a good chance that it might fade when you change tommorow night." David sighed, and motioned for Rhiannone to come nearer. "I think i can make it stick though. I ought to have enough energy for at least that much." He gives a little smile, acting as if he hadn't heard the first comment she had made.

'Oh,' she said. And here she thought he was going to bite her head off for getting it. She got up and went over to him, sitting down and turning away so that her back was facing him. She pulled up the back of her top a little, enough to expose the big dressing on it.

"Hmmmm. What color is the Tattoo? All black, or is it multi colored. Cause there's a good chance of it getting silver highlights from this, if its all black, just to warn you." David gently rested his hand over the bandaged area of her back, waiting for her confermation that it was okay to proceed. Well that, and bolstering his energy levels. He was near to nil right now.

'Its black,' she said.
'But i guess that would look pretty cool if it did happen.' she leaned forward a little.
'Go ahead.'

Nodding, he closed his eyes, and his hand started to glow with a faint, silvery color. All Rhiannon would be able to feel is a light warmth, slowly outlining the tattoo, then filling it, like it was a patch of sunlight on her back, and then slowly fading away. David reached out, gently removing the bandage, to show the tattoo, almost fully healed, shot through with silver sworls here and there. "There you go. Now it will also show up as a design on your fur when your in your other form, or as a wolf." David yawned a bit, laying back against the couch. "Very nice choise of design though." With that, he went into a light dose on the couch.

'Owwwwwie,' she squeaked, the surgical tape tugging on her skin. But the tattoo itself didnt hurt really now, and she rushed over to the mirror, turning and squinting to look at it.
'Ooh,' she said.
'It looks really nice now!' she went over to David and kissed him on the forehead.
'Welcome home Daddy,' she whispered, and ran off to her room.

A few minutes later Sayuri pushed the door open with her hip, hands full of carrier bags from doing the weekly shop. She put them down in the kitchen and went into the lounge to sit for a moment when she discovered David. Who looked really tired...and was asleep. She slid quietly into the seat beside him and kissed him tenderly.
'Welcome back sleepyhead.'

Blinking sleepily, David woke up, and smiled at Sayuri, kissing her again. "Hullo love. Sorry i'm a little late. Things happened, and wouldn't ya believe it, not a darn one of them even knew what a phone was." David made a little face. "So, what did i miss while i was gone, other than Rhiannon getting a tattoo?"

She hugged him tightly, sniffing a little in her happiness to see him home safe;
'I missed you so much,' she murmured, kissing his face.
'What else? Some old woman dropped by. Ariana something her name was. She didnt seem to know who I was but she knew you.' she bopped him a little.

With that, David's face paled considerably. "It wasn't Ariana Ravendoter was it? Short woman, elderly looking, but energetic? Oh Oh OH. I'm in trouble. I'm in for a tongue lashing if its who I think it is." David struggled to sit up, looking a little panicy again.

She nodded;
'Why are you looking like I just told you Attila the Hun came visiting? Who is she hun?' she frowned.
'She's just an old woman after all.'

Mumbled under his breath came a, "An old woman that can kick my a** if she puts half her mind to it" Chuckling a little, David sat up. "She was my sensei when i was about Rhiannon's age. I didn't even know she knew how to get to gaia from where I used to live. Oh Man, if i'd known that, i would have written her a letter telling her that i had gotten settled down and had a kid and gotten married. She's going to kick my a** for sure for that." David gives a nervious chuckle. "Well, its nice to see some things in life never change, huh? She terrorized me when i was younger, and still does to this day. But really, she's a very loveable person, just strict with her students. And they never stop being her students, no matter what."

'Well if you like her so much why didnt you let her know about me..or Rhiannon?' she asked sharply.
'Are you ashamed of having a family or something?' the words caught in her throat a little.
'Or is this just another part of your past...and I have to deal with it.'

"Because i didn't know how to get ahold of her. I come from, hmmm, an alternate dimension i guess would be the closest description. I have no clue how to send messages back home, or even how to get back there. I ended up in gaia after a long string of accidents. I didn't know she even know that this place existed. I had given up everyone from my past before gaia as lost to me forever. And no silly, why would I ever be ashamed of having a family. You and Rhiannon mean everything to me love." He gently pulled her close, kissing her. "I'm sorry i paniced. I just didn't expect her to turn up all of a sudden, and especially not on gaia. Then again, that is her style, to just waltz in unannounced." He pulls Sayuri up into his lap, snuggling with her, starting to doze a little.

'Well I didnt expect her to turn up either,' she said, slightly mollified. She wrapped an arm around him, stroking through his hair with her free hand.
'She turned up right after you left. It was weird.' she kissed the top of his head.
'I think you should sleep. I'll nag you tomorrow.' she giggled quietly.

"Sorry love. Just exausted. They "forgot" to tell me that they where sending me to help set up churches and temples and shrines in a war torn country. While i was there, it all exploded into civil war." David shivered a little. "I just need to sleep, and rest." Slowly standing, he held out one hand for Sayuri before heading off to the bedroom to sleep. >> And moaybe something else later.

Rhiannon's feet pounded along the streets, her fear lending wings to her flight. She could hear the hunter still following. Rhiannon was getting tired, and her steps were becoming heavy and she still had a long ways to go. She stumbled, falling forward and the action saved her life. The hunter had stopped, aimed and fired another silver bolt at her and it whistled over her head. Rhiannon screamed in terror, and the hunter was on her, a glinting knife in its hand. The hunter grabbed her by the jacket collar, pulling her close to its masked face;
'Noo,' Rhiannon moaned, struggling.
'Please - I havent done anything.' she pleaded, tears streaming down her face. The knife was raised up high, the hunter was about to stab her when there came a shout from some passerby. Rhiannon twisted, kicking out with her boot tip and caught her attacker in the gut. The hunter recoiled, but slashed at Rhiannon, slicing into the skin on her thigh. The pain was like fire, and blood spilled down. By this time the guy who had shouted was pulling the hunter off and Rhiannon scrambled to her feet, staggering away as the good samaritan and the werewolf hunter tustled. Now all the hunter had to do was follow Rhiannon's bloodtrail but she couldnt afford to stop and tie the wound up. Streets, roads, and then finally into the greener, wooded area that led to her house passed by in a blur, as she limped along, a hand against the still-bleeding wound. Finally her house was in sight, and she felt a measure of relief.
'Dad,' she called, her voice sounding feeble to her ears. A faint feeling passed over her and she crumbled to the ground, one hand red with her blood pointing towards her front door.
'Daddy,' she mumured, crying again, and she passed out.

David had been meditation on the top of the cliff. Something about the day had unsettled him, so he had come here to try and relax. Just as he was finally unwinding, the scent of blood carried itself on the wind to him. Peering down, he saw a girl stumble and fall on the path to the house, and hear her say dad. That was Rhiannon! Throwing caution to the wind, David leaped from the top of the cliff, letting his wings emerge just long enough to slow his decent enough he didn't splatter, scrambling over to rhiannon, tearing off his shirt, and pressing it into the cut on her leg. If she hadn't healed, that meant either magic, or silver was involved. And that meant trouble. Gently stroking her cheek, he picked her up, keeping an eye around him as he ran into the house, yelling for Sayuri.

The hunter stood, one glove removed now, pale, elegant fingers rubbing the blood together. A tissue was produced and the blood was wiped away, the tissue discarded and landing on the now groaning form of the good samaritan at the hunters feet. The mask was pulled off, to reveal deep red hair, tightly wound up in a bun - a woman. She sighed, shaking her head, and kneeling by the man;
'Just be thankful you arent a monster like that girl,' she said.
'You'd be dead by now.' she stood, stepping over him. She reloaded the bow, slid the silver-coated knife back where it belonged, and took off, following the blood trail. Her brother's whelp would lead her right to him.


Rhiannon's eyes fluttered open briefly;
'Daddy,' she mumbled, then shut them again. She felt weak - so this was what it was like to be stabbed with silver. Sayuri came out from the kitchen area, carrying a bowl which she was mixing something in;
'David what on earth are you yelling for?'
Then she saw Rhiannon in her arms - and the blood. She paled, the bowl slipping from her fingers and smashing at her feet. She ran over to David;
'My baby, my little girl!' she cried.
'What's happened - whats going on?'

"I dunno. Here, help me clean her up so I can see how bad it is." He laid Rhiannon on the couch, not caring about bloodstains, rushing to one of the doors leading back into the cliffs, pressing certain runes as he wispered under his breath, the door seeming to just vanish as he disappered inside, coming back with a large bowl of water, a washcloth, and dragging a large chest. He set the bowl down on the endtable, pressing the cloth into Sayuri's hands as he sat down near rhiannon's head, holding her hand, brushing back her hair. "I know it hurts sweetie, but I need you to tell me what happened."

The trail petered out on the road.
'Clever girl,' scowled the huntress. She had refound the blood trail in the woods. It seemed that Rhiannon had managed to change for a while, had leapt from the road into the woods but had soon changed back. The woman found a tuft of fur, and then carried on following the crimson trail.

Sayuri nodded, her mouth set in a line and her skin pale as pale could be but she cleaned the wound, feeling as she was being stabbed in the heart as Rhiannon winced at the pain.
'I'm sorry baby,' she whispered.
'Its not your fault Mamma,' Rhiannon said. She looked at David.
'I was with Cyrus - a person..' she shut her eyes, carrying on talking.
'Came through the Cafe window. Shot at me..' she breathed hard for a bit and then calmed again.
'Chased me. I fell. Caught me. Someone - a guy tried to help. I struggled to escape. Stabbed - with a silvery blade.'
Sayuri had placed the cloth in the water again, her eyes like stone and her hands balled so tightly into fists that her nails cut into her palms.
'I'll kill them,' she said, this small woman in an apron, her face dusted with tear streaked flour. Someone had hurt her child - she wanted their blood, and she made to stand.

David's eyes turned a darker shade of green, fading to almost black as he dug in the chest again, pulling out a firstaid kit, digging out needle and thread. "I'm sorry sweetie, but this is going to hurt a bit more, and if i know werewolf hunters, your going to be sick for a while. Most likely they used a silver plated knife, so you've got little bits of silver in you know, and your blood feels like its on fire, hmmm?" He gently placed his hands over the cut, looking at it. "hmmmm. Shallow cut, but messy. We need to get you stitched up before the hunter tracks you here." He looks to Sayuri. "Love, go bar the front door please? I don't want a suprise sneaking into the house."

The huntress broke through the tree line, not so much following the trail but other tracks now. She knew the girl wouldnt have come out here injured as she was unless there was a place to flee to. She grinned triumphantly as she found the path leading up to Davids house. She clambered up a nearby tree, seated herself in a lower branch and staked out the house, her eyes moving over the building and its surroundings.

'Everything hurts,' Rhiannon whimpered. Her temperature had risen slightly and her face was flushed. Sayuri bit the back of her hand, rising and going to do as David asked, locking the doors tightly and pushing furniture against them. The returned to Rhiannon's side as swiftly as she could, holding her daughters hand as David administered to her.

David finished up stitching the wound, putting a piece of gauze over the wound and bandaging it up before checking Rhiannon's temperature, digging back into the chest, digging for something, coming up with a flask of water that was sweating in the air, its contents nice and cool. He pressed it into Rhiannon's hands. "Here sweetie, hold this to your forehead. Daddy's got to go check on things." He stood up after kissing her forehead, kissing Sayuri gently. "I need to get some things down here incase someone manages to break in. Whoever they are, they are sure to have tracked her here." He rushed upstairs, making sure the path up to the clifftop was sealed and warded with magic before ducking into his armory, collecting a small chest, and a sack before heading back downstairs.

The huntress was already closer to the house - in fact inside the boundaries of David's magic. She kept low, out of the view of the windows and debated where to enter. She had already found the pool of blood where Rhiannon had collapsed and she snickered. David was near - she just knew he was inside the house trying to save his disgusting tainted child.

Sayuri stayed with Rhiannon, fetching a bowl when she said she felt ill and holding it whilst her daughter was sick. She helped her lay back down, removed the bowl and emptied and cleaned it briefly, before returning to Rhiannon's side. She soaked a flannel in icy water, laying it on Rhiannon's forehead;
'Its my fault,' Rhiannon said suddenly.
'I am bad, bad.' she muttered, her eyes shut. Sayuri realised her poor baby was delirious and let her carry on talking, just stroking her hair and holding her hand.
'Bad - unclean thing. Shouldnt...shouldnt have kissed..' Sayuri blinked. What was that about? Something to do with when Rhiannon had snuck out so many times. It didnt matter right now though and she waited for David to return.

David walked back into the room just to hear the last part, and his head snapped up as one of his silent alarms went off. "Someones near. Very near." He walked over to Rhiannon, lifting her. "Follow me. Quickly. I don't know how much time we have." He headed up the stairs, and back into the cliff, doors opening in front of him on there own, as he entered a room covered with cool tiles, a pool of cold, mountain spring water off to one side. Gently lowering rhiannon into the pool, into a seat carved into his side, he strapped her up so she doesn't sink under, before digging in his bag, drawing out some amulets and rings, slipping them on before hugging sayuri gently. "I'm sorry for this love. I just wanted us to live in peace, but it seems that trouble comes looking again."

The huntress managed to break into a window at the rear of the house. She had brought along an amulet for penetrating magical barriers and it had done its job long enough for her to slip inside. Sliding quietly across the floor, she managed to make her way into the living room. She once again found blood, and discarded medical items;
'David,' she hissed.
'Where are you hiding?'


Sayuri shook her head;
'I told you - I'm with you through the good and bad times,' she sat down by the pool
'Why have you put her in here? Wont she catch cold? She has lost alot of blood.'

"She's got silver in her blood stream. I have to get her temperature down, or its likely to raise it to dangerous temperatures." His head snapped up, and he looked to the door as he heard the faint sound of glass breaking. "They got in somehow. Dammit. Who are these people." He growls a little, letting himself shift into his full wereform, crouching so that Sayuri and Rhiannon are behind him. He takes off one of the amulets, handing it back to Sayuri. "Put this on. It will protect you, if they come after you. If the worst happens, know that I love you, and always will."

Sayuri nodded, taking the amulet, holding his paw and kissing it;
'Dont say that - you'll come back to us,' she looked at Rhiannon.
'You have to,' she whispered. Rhiannon moaned, her teeth chattering a little as her temperature swung from hot to cold and then back again.


'Come to me David!' the huntress shouted, kicking over a table as she walked through the house.
'Hiding - you always did do that. Come out and face me - freak! Monster,' she spat, smashing a mirror on a wall.

David brushed the back of his paw over Sayuri's cheek, and lifted Rhiannon out of the water, wrapping her in a blanket after drying her, before heading to the door. "The door will seal after i leave, and only you and I can open it. Don't open it for anyone." Saying that he slunk out into the hallway, looking around, the rings he was wearing winking to life, the weapons carved on each one glowing slightly.

Sayuri hugged Rhiannon to her, stroking her hair. Rhiannon's teeth chattered and she mumbled more;
'Should have called her...should have fought the hunter..' she passed out again and Sayuri clutched to her.


The huntress kicked over a chair;
'Your only delaying the inevitable David!' she yelled, slipping the knife from its sheath and holding it in front of her as she walked.

Growling a little, David walked down the hall towards the hunter. "And what gives you the right to hunt me and mine! What did I ever do to you! Why can i not just live in peace!" He burst through the door to the room the hunter was in, and stopped dead in his tracks, almost stunned. "La, la, larissa? What? HOw? WHY! Why did you attack Rhiannon!"

David dropped to one knee, the bolt flying over his head, and growling, he lept forward to tackle his sister. He didn't know why she was here, but it was obvious that she was not friendly. If only he could capture her or something. Then maybe he could find out what was wrong, how she had gotten here. Maybe the rest of his family was here!

Larissa dodged to one side, turning as she did so and aiming a slash at David with the dagger as he went past her.


Rhiannon awoke again, blinking and looking blearily around her;
'Daddy?' she said, then looked up at Sayuri.
'Mum where's Dad?'
Sayuri shook her head;
'He's fine - we're safe. Just rest.'
Rhiannon leaned on her mother, shutting her eyes again.

Howling in pain as he felt the blade enter his arm, he snapped his arm forward to rip the knife out of her grip, one wing coming around to buffet her in the head, still attempting to subdue her.

Sayuri thought she heard David yelling or something and she stiffened, clutching Rhiannon to her who had by now slipped into an uneasy slumber.

'I have to put up with you.' she said, managing to joke.
'My butt is too big from having Rhiannon and eating too much homemade food for me to snag another guy now,' she giggled, following David.
'I dont know,' she said, tucking Rhiannon under the sheets of her bed and smoothing the hair from her daughters face.
'She's a teenager. They arent known for their good sense.' she kissed Rhiannon on the head.

David smiles. "Hun, your butt isn't big. Your still as slim and lovely as the day I met you." He kisses her again. "Well, if she won't stay inside, it means i'll have to send something with her to help protect her." He thinks a moment. "I have a few options. I'll figure something out love. I'm not going to let them win. Never." David blinked a moment. "Damn. We need to warn Sati and Silver. I'm sure they can handle themselves, but we should warn them anyways."

'They'll be fine - but telling them would also be a good idea,' she chuckled.
'And your a liar - sweet but a liar,' she hugged him, her eyes flickering to Rhiannon who seemed to be sleeping properly now.

David slumped down into a chair, dozing as well. He seemed lost in thought, and completely exausted, for now.

Sayuri kissed him on the forehead, leaving Rhiannon's room. Rhiannon slept on, her eyes moving under the lids as she dreamed. Sayuri cleaned up the mess in the house, covering up the broken window and finally crawled into bed in the wee hours of the morning. She thanked whoever it was that looked over them for keeping her daughter and David safe this time, and cried herself to sleep, overloaded as she was with emotion and weariness.

Rhiannon slowly opened her eyes, wondering for a moment why she was in bed in her clothes. Then as she moved, she sucked a breath in as doing so jogged the wound she had gotten yesterday....was it really only yesterday that had all happened? Her head felt foggy, and she had a raging thirst - and a full bladder. She shifted uncomfortably and pulled back the sheet covering her, slowly turning on the bed and put her feet on the floor. The first time she tried to stand she pretty much collasped back down again. She waited for her head to stop spinning and then stood again, feeling dizzy but it was managable. She shuffled out of her room, limping a little, passing her sleeping father and heading for the bathroom. She came out a little later, relieved and still muzzy headed. Rhiannon came back into her room and fell onto her bed again.
'Owie,' she mumbled into the mattress and turned around, trying to sit up again.

David mumbled a little, and opened his eyes, quickly scanning the room for danger as his hand went to the knife sheathed at his belt. He relaxed when he saw that it was only his daughter moving around. "Morning sweetie? How are you this morning?"

'Fine,' she said, sitting up again finally.
'Well maybe not fine...but I am better then last night. Are you okay Daddy?' she asked, looking at him. She smelt what seemed like blood - not fresh but dried.

David chuckles. "Yeah, i'm fine. I'm a tough guy. Takes more then a little stab in the arm to put me down." He rolls up his sleeve to show the stab wound which he had bandaged up. "See? All fine. How about you? How's your leg?"

'Bloody sore,' she said, swinging her legs around and standing again. She walked around a little, trying to loosen her limbs.
'Who stabbed you? Was it that hunter? I'm sorry I led it home Daddy but I couldnt stop to bind my leg. I was frightened the hunter would catch me,' she sniffled.

David stood, pulling Rhiannon into a hug. "Na, you did the right thing sweetie. I'm just glad you made it home okay. As for who the hunter is, that is a difficult story, and one that I would really rather not go into right now, not until I know more. But for now, promise me you won't sneak out alone anymore? Hunter's usually work in groups, meaning there are still others out there that know about you."

She pulled a face;
'Why cant I go out? I have to see Cyrus..and,' and some other people she mentally added.
'What do you mean 'a difficult story'? You know who it was dont you? Why cant you tell me? I want to hurt them,' she growled.

"Even if i told you the woman was your aunt, my sister?" David thumped back down into the chair, sighing, staring off into space. "I'm not asking you to stay cooped up in the house at all times, just to always be with someone or something that can protect you. I suppose that means i'll have to find a guardian spirit or something for you." He makes a face at Rhiannon. "So, what was that i heard last night about "I shouldn't have kissed her?" David put on his poker face, not letting anything slip.

'Your aunt!' she sat down heavily on the bed, rubbing her head.
'But - she's family,' she said in a small hurt voice.
'Why would she do that?' she looked at David.
'I'm not staying in doors,' she stated.
'I'm not cowering in here like I'm too afraid,' she defiantly, then ducked her head.
'I dont know what you are talking about,' she said, sitting up again, her cheeks crimson.

"No, your aunt, my sister. As to why, i'm not sure yet. I"m still doing some research. And i'm just asking you to try and play it safe, or are you looking for another knife wound?" He chuckles a little, touching her cheek. "Oh, i think you do know what i'm talking about. Your blushing little wolf, and I can hear your heart raising. So spill the beans."

''Thats what I meant - you know that. I did get stabbed with silver,'' she said, poking her tongue out at him.
''No I dont think I want to be stabbed again,'' she said.
''I''m not saying I want to be. I''m saying I dont want to be stuck here.'' she frowned.
''Daddy what do you want me to say? Cant I have privacy? I dont ask about what you and Mum get up to after all.''

"Ah, but then again, I don''t act guilty about what I do with your mother. So if you don''t want to tell me you don''t have to, but i just worry about you hun. Do I need to start buying you things to embarass you?" He taps a foot, looking almost amused. "Oh, and bring them by the house sometime so we can meet them, whoever they are." With that, David walks out of the room, wistling a little, a plan forming in his mind as he headed up towards the cliff to check on the wardings he had started, and on some other things.

''Yeah but Mum is a girl,'' she whispered.
''And your a guy.'' she sighed, getting up and leaving her room. She headed into the lounge and sat down again. Sayuri bustled in, a bowl of soup made up, and a soda on a tray.
''Thanks Mum,'' Rhiannon said gratefully. Sayuri sat down next to her as Rhiannon ate and drank.

About 30 minutes later, David came back down stairs, with a large black raven sitting on his shoulder, peering around, and sporting a black eye. He sat down in a chair as the raven took wing, gliding over to Rhiannon to sit on her shoulder, cawing light. "Well, it seems Ariel likes you well enough. I''ve managed to sweet talk her into staying close to you so she can come get me if your in trouble."

''I have to go around with a bird?'' she asked incredulously. She looked at it from the corner of her eyes, hoping it wouldnt poop down her back.
''Daddy,'' she protested.
''Are you sure about this?''

"Yes i''m sure, and even if you try to leave her behind, Ariel will follow you. She''s a very strong willed bird. I should know. She likes to boss me around sometimes." He gives a smile, and Ariel just gave a caw, and nodded her head, fluffing up her feathers a little, as if showing she was the big boss of everyone.

Oh great, she thought. The bird wasnt bad to look at - and being black she would go with most of the clothes Rhiannon owned. Sayuri got up again, saying something about doing laundry.
''Why would you let a bird boss you around?'' she asked, poking her tongue out at her father.

"Cause usually she only pokes her beak in when i''m doing something stupid. So if she starts throwing a hissy fit, i''ve learned to listen for trouble coming." He smiles, and streaches. "I''m gonna go take a nap. You have fun and rest up so you heal Rhiannon. Talk to you later hun."

Rhiannon nodded;
''Yeah I''m going to take a nap myself,'' she said. She shooed Ariel off her shoulder, and looked around furtively. She stood up, went to her room and gingerly changed her clothes, wincing everytime her leg moved. She put on a long, charcoal grey skirt rather then trousers so as not to scrape her stitches and donned a print t-shirt. She felt wobbly still but she really had to go out. Well thats how she felt anyway. She snuck out of the house and ran down the path leading onto the road. And swore as Ariel cawed at her from a tree above.
''Fine!'' she said, looking up at her.
''You can come but dont get in the way!'' and she walked slowly down the road towards Sati''s house.

Rhiannon had shut herself in her room on her return from Kate''s apartment, only emerging to eat or use the bathroom. On the third day she decided that it was time for her talk to her mother about...stuff. She dragged herself out of bed, dressed and went downstairs.
''Good morning sweetie,'' Sayuri said as Rhiannon entered the kitchen.
'' ''morning,'' she mumbled, sitting down at the table. She poured juice into a glass from the jug on the table and Sayuri put a plate in front of her with buttered toast on it. Rhiannon nibbled on a piece as Sayuri sat down.
''So you gonna tell me whats up?'' her mother said, looking at her over her own glass of juice. Rhiannon tore strips off her toast piece and shrugged.
''Is it your cut? Is it still hurting?''
Rhiannon shook her head.
''C''mon honey you gotta give your old mum something to work with,'' pleaded Sayuri, putting the glass down and leaning on the table. Rhiannon smiled a little at that and put the shredded toast piece down.
''I met someone,'' she started. A little light clicked on in Sayuri''s head...now that she thought about it Rhiannon''s behaviour was a little ''there''s a guy involved''.
''And we kissed...''
''And does this someone have a name?'' Sayuri asked gently. Rhiannon nodded.
''Her name is Kate.'' Rhiannon whispered.
''Umm.. did you say ''her'' name?'' Sayuri said after a long moment of opening and shutting her mouth like a fish gasping for air. Rhiannon nodded;
''Yes - I kissed a girl Mum,'' she looked at Sayuri.
''Please...dont hate me okay?''
Sayuri shook her head.
''Lord no Rhiannon - I dont hate you for kissing a girl! I want you to be happy. Whoever its with. Does she make you happy?'' she asked tentatively. Rhiannon shrugged a little;
''I dont know. I feel - safe when I''m with her. And when she kisses me I feel. Weird.'' she tugged on her hair.
''Is it okay for me to talk about...stuff with you?'' she asked Sayuri.
''I guess you mean sex stuff right?''
Rhiannon nodded at the question.
''Have you..done anything like that - with anyone?'' she asked. Rhiannon shook her head.
''Just kissed. And she...touched me on the leg. It made me feel - strange. But a good strange.''
Sayuri nodded;
''What you are feeling is normal. Its sexual attraction...desire. Basically it means your body is responding in a favourable way to what ''Kate'' was doing with you. You are of an age when you will feel like this after all.''
Rhiannon squirmed in her seat, her cheeks crimson.
''I want you to remember that whether you are with a girl or a guy that you should only do what you are ready to do. If it doesnt feel right or you are uncomfortable with where things are leading say ''no''. Its your body and only you have the right to say what you want to happen to it. Anyone that really cares for you will respect that. And if they dont - then they arent worth worrying about.''
Rhiannon nodded.
''I understand Mum,'' she said.
''Kate isnt like that. I kinda pushed her away when we were...umm touching and she didnt try and force me.''
Sayuri smiled;
''Can we meet her?'' she asked. As strange as this was, she wanted to be involved in her daughters life. And well, love was love after all. Not that Rhiannon was saying that it had gotten that far yet.
''Maybe,'' she said, standing.
''Can I go to hers? I need to apologise for running out.''
Sayuri nodded.
''Be careful okay?'' Sayuri went over and hugged her daughter. Rhiannon ran off to her room, changing quickly into a long skirt and a low-cut top. She ran back downstairs and pushed a piece of paper into Sayuri''s hand before she left, telling her mother that it was Kate''s phone number before she left the house. Sayuri sat down, staring at the paper, still shocked - a little bemused, but happy that her daughter had found someone. Even if it wasnt a someone she had expected. Now all she would have to do is tell David!